KARACHI: Former Sindh Minister for Local Government Aga Siraj Durrani, who is currently the Speaker Sindh Assembly, is involved in the politically-motivated appointments of around 12,800 officers/officials in the Sindh Local Government department, it is learnt. The confessional statements were made by at least 23 officers of the Local Government Department who were summoned by Investigation Officer of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Sabih Rafay at bureau’s headquarters, sources confided to Daily Times. According to sources, the NAB through call up notice U/S 19 of NAO 1999 directed the Local Government Secretary Baqaullah Unar to ensure presence of the officials before the IO. “The competent authority has taken the cognizance of offences of corruption and corrupt practices inter alia by misusing their authority and making illegal appointments in Local Government Department, Government of Sindh and others, which is cognizable under section 9(a) and punishable under section 10 of National Accountability Ordinance, 1999”, says an official letter made available here. The sources said that out of a total of 28; only 23 officials appeared before the IO and recorded their statements. “The LG official clearly stated that they were pressurized to appoint people by the then minister, Aga Siraj Durrani”, sources said. Those who were summoned to record their statement include former Secretary LG Ali Ahmed Lund who did not appear as he is absconder in corruption cases while former secretary Javed Hanif Khan, Aftab Ahmed Mughal, ADLG Badin, Azad Nidwani, ADLG Mithi, Shoukat Memon, ADLG Mithi, Azhar Memon, Municipal Commissioner Hyderabad, Munwer Zareef c/o Administrator Hyderabad, Abdul Qadir Notiar, ADLG Tando Allahyar, Nizamuddin Shaikh, ADLG Dadu, Ajaz Ahmed Panwhar, ADLG Dadu, Ramzan Pathan, ADLG Dadu, Riaz Ahmed Sahto, TMA Mirpurkhas, Nizamuddin Magsi, Town Officer Nasirabad, Faqeer Mataro Khan Mangrio, Town Officer Pithoro, Fareed Ahmed, Office Superintendent Samaro, Muhammad Paryal Shahani, CMO Umerkot, Ali Hyder Shah, CMO Umerkot, Abdul Jaleel Thero, CMO Umerkot, Manzoor Ahmed Samejo, TMO Tando Bago and Nazar Ali Shah, TMO Tando Bago had their statements recorded. When contacted, Deputy Director NAB Dr Zamir Abbasi told Daily Times that 23 persons out of the 28 officials physically appeared before the IO to record their statements and further investigation is underway in the case.